Race for Nabatiye: Intelligence on Iran's Revolutionary Guard Mobilizes Lebanese State

Special information from "Al-Araby" revealed that the heavy deployment of the Lebanese Army and security agencies in the city of Nabatiye, coinciding with President Joseph Aoun's visit, was partly due to circulating intelligence about the presence of Iranian Revolutionary Guard advisers in the city, amid fears their presence could serve as a pretext for a new Israeli operation after the conclusion of the battle at Ali al-Tahir heights.

A Lebanese security source told "Al-Araby" that the insistence on reinforcing the presence of the army, internal security forces, General Security, and State Security, along with establishing checkpoints and conducting patrols within Nabatiye, aims to establish a clear state presence and prevent any military activity outside official institutions, including restricting the movement of Iranian personnel or advisers believed to be in the area and pushing them to leave.

The source added that assessments circulating in Lebanese political and security circles suggest some of these advisers may belong to the same group previously present alongside Hezbollah leadership at the Ali al-Tahir facility before Israeli forces seized the heights and destroyed the tunnel network.

According to the source, the presence of Iranian advisers alongside Hezbollah military leaders in Nabatiye is also linked to internal Hezbollah assessments that Israel might shift the focus of its operations toward the city and its surroundings after closing the Ali al-Tahir file, prompting preparations for the possibility of expanded Israeli operations.

Closing the Pretexts

These revelations align with a notable official Lebanese move in recent days. President Aoun held an expanded security meeting dedicated to southern Lebanon and "the Nabatiye region specifically," attended by the Army Commander, heads of General Security, State Security, Internal Security Forces, the Intelligence Director, and heads of intelligence agencies.

Notably, the Lebanese Presidency directly linked the security buildup in Nabatiye to Lebanon’s position in negotiations with Israel, emphasizing that "any security vacuum in the south constitutes a pretext for attacks."

This statement carries significance beyond internal security concerns, as it reflects Beirut’s effort to demonstrate that Nabatiye remains under state institutions, and that the army and security agencies are capable of preventing its use as a base for military activity that Israel could exploit to justify advancing toward it.

On the ground, the army has expanded its presence within the city, parallel to patrols and checkpoints set up by General Security, State Security, and Internal Security Forces, while General Security Director Colonel Hassan Shqayr inspected the agency’s headquarters in the University District near Dabsha Hill and the Ali al-Tahir heights.

From Ali al-Tahir to Nabatiye

Nabatiye gains additional strategic importance following Israel’s capture of the Ali al-Tahir heights, which include a vast network of tunnels and military sites that Israel claims belonged to Hezbollah’s "Badr Sector."

The heights overlook key routes connected to Nabatiye and the Tuffah region, making the end of the battle there raise concerns about a potential shift of Israeli military pressure into deeper areas.

During the Ali al-Tahir battle, sources and reports mentioned the presence of Iranian advisers inside the tunnel network alongside Hezbollah fighters—an allegation denied by Hezbollah, while an Israeli official stated that no Iranians were found inside the facility after the takeover.

However, the Lebanese security source argues that the absence of Iranian personnel does not confirm they were never present, noting that prevailing assessments in Beirut assume they had left before the final phase of the operation.

The presence of Iranian officers alongside Hezbollah is not unprecedented. International reports during the war revealed that Revolutionary Guard and Quds Force officers served as advisers to Hezbollah, and that Iran played a role in rebuilding parts of Hezbollah’s military and leadership structure after suffering significant losses.